Pangasinenses’ thoughts on DU30’s first year

WHEN President Duterte assumed the presidency a year ago on June 30, most Pangassinenses had high hopes for better life in the country given his campaign promises that catapulted him to the presidency.

For senior citizen, Nestor Gutierrez from Barangay Poblacion of Binmaley, said people can see the big difference under the Duterte administration.

“Takot na ang mga adik ngayon (Drug addicts are now afraid),” Gutierrez said, adding that he can now walk freely even at wee hours after Duterte waged an all-out war against drugs.

Franklin Baniqued, 41, of Tonton, Lingayen who works as a security guard, said if there is one big accomplishment that Duterte did well in his first year in his office, “it’s about the fight against illegal drugs”.

“I used to see young people obviously under the influence in front of the establishment where I work at,” Baniqued said.

“Now they are gone. They now fear for their lives possibly because they know they would be subjected to Tokhang,” Baniqued said, referring to the police’s Oplan Tokhang, the strategy by PNP visiting suspected drug personalities being in their homes with the appeal to mend their ways.

For Elvis Austria, 43, driver from Barangay Magtaking , San Carlos City, discipline among people is more evident now, especially in transacting in government offices.

“Matatakot na sila ngayon na hindi agad umaksyon sa kailangan ng mga tao kasi isusumbong sila sa 8888 Hotline ni Duterte (They are afraid now not to act promptly to what the people need as they will be complained to 8888 Hotline of Duterte,)” Austria said.

Shernan Castillo, a garbage collector from Iloilo City who is married to a Pangasinense from Sta. Barbara, said rogue policemen have no place under Duterte’s administration.